English Textbook Evaluations

Here is an example of how to conduct a CARI to see if a textbook is appropriate or not for a group of readers.

1. Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes: The American Experience (12th grade book)

Textbook evaluation for Timeless Voices...


Items are rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. Criteria designed by our team:

#1 TEXTBOOK: Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes: The American Experience

Layout:

Is the book arranged in an easy to read format with clear headings. 5
Do table of contents, glossary and index make information available for students in a well-organized and logically arranged manner? 5
Does the text use helpful graphics? 3
Is information organized by subject area? 5
Is the layout attractive? 3
Does it have visuals/art/good photo quality? 3

Content:

Does the textbook cover writing style, grammar, vocabulary, literary criticism, and linguistics? 4
Does it give clear examples illustrating the concepts it presents? 4
Does literature cover a wide variety of genre and writing style and does it include selections that will capture the students’ interest? 4
Does the textbook encourage higher level thinking? 4

Standards:

Does the textbook address and meet curriculum standards? 5
Does the textbook meet national and state standards? 4
Is the text written at an appropriate level for the students? 5
Is the book free from bias? 4

Activities:

Does the textbook present activities that enhance student’s learning? 4
Does it include interactive activities for use outside of the classroom? 3
Does it present critical thinking questions for each lesson or topic? 4
Does the textbook include flexibility and room for differentiation of instruction? 3
Does the textbook take into account different learning styles 3

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#2 TEXTBOOK: Glencoe Literature: The Reader's Choice American Literature

Layout:

Is the book arranged in an easy to read format with clear headings. 5
Do table of contents, glossary and index make information available for students in a well-organized and logically arranged manner? 5
Does the text use helpful graphics? 5
Is information organized by subject area? 5
Is the layout attractive? 5
Does it have visuals/art/good photo quality? 5

Content:

Does the textbook cover writing style, grammar, vocabulary, literary criticism, and linguistics? 4
Does it give clear examples illustrating the concepts it presents? 5
Does literature cover a wide variety of genre and writing style and does it include selections that will capture the students’ interest? 5
Does the textbook encourage higher level thinking? 5

Standards:

Does the textbook address and meet curriculum standards? 5
Does the textbook meet national and state standards? 5
Is the text written at an appropriate level for the students? 5
Is the book free from bias? 4

Activities:

Does the textbook present activities that enhance student’s learning? 5
Does it include interactive activities for use outside of the classroom? 5
Does it present critical thinking questions for each lesson or topic? 5
Does the textbook include flexibility and room for differentiation of instruction? 5
Does the textbook take into account different learning styles 5

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#3 TEXTBOOK: Glencoe "The Writer's Choice" grade 9

Layout:

Is the book arranged in an easy to read format with clear headings. 5
Do table of contents, glossary and index make information available for students in a well-organized and logically arranged manner? 5
Does the text use helpful graphics? 5
Is information organized by subject area? 3
Is the layout attractive? 4
Does it have visuals/art/good photo quality? 5

Content:

Does the textbook cover writing style, grammar, vocabulary, literary criticism, and linguistics? 5
Does it give clear examples illustrating the concepts it presents? 4
Does literature cover a wide variety of genre and writing style and does it include selections that will capture the students’ interest? 3
Does the textbook encourage higher level thinking? 4

Standards:

Does the textbook address and meet curriculum standards? 4
Does the textbook meet national and state standards? 3
Is the text written at an appropriate level for the students? 4
Is the book free from bias? 5

Activities:

Does the textbook present activities that enhance student’s learning? 5
Does it include interactive activities for use outside of the classroom? 3
Does it present critical thinking questions for each lesson or topic? 4
Does the textbook include flexibility and room for differentiation of instruction? 3
Does the textbook take into account different learning styles 4

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#4 TEXTBOOK:

Layout:

Is the book arranged in an easy to read format with clear headings.
Do table of contents, glossary and index make information available for students in a well-organized and logically arranged manner?
Does the text use helpful graphics?
Is information organized by subject area?
Is the layout attractive?
Does it have visuals/art/good photo quality?

Content:

Does the textbook cover writing style, grammar, vocabulary, literary criticism, and linguistics?
Does it give clear examples illustrating the concepts it presents?
Does literature cover a wide variety of genre and writing style and does it include selections that will capture the students’ interest?
Does the textbook encourage higher level thinking?

Standards:

Does the textbook address and meet curriculum standards?
Does the textbook meet national and state standards?
Is the text written at an appropriate level for the students?
Is the book free from bias?

Activities:

Does the textbook present activities that enhance student’s learning?
Does it include interactive activities for use outside of the classroom?
Does it present critical thinking questions for each lesson or topic?
Does the textbook include flexibility and room for differentiation of instruction?
Does the textbook take into account different learning styles

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#5 TEXTBOOK:

Layout:

Is the book arranged in an easy to read format with clear headings.
Do table of contents, glossary and index make information available for students in a well-organized and logically arranged manner?
Does the text use helpful graphics?
Is information organized by subject area?
Is the layout attractive?
Does it have visuals/art/good photo quality?

Content:

Does the textbook cover writing style, grammar, vocabulary, literary criticism, and linguistics?
Does it give clear examples illustrating the concepts it presents?
Does literature cover a wide variety of genre and writing style and does it include selections that will capture the students’ interest?
Does the textbook encourage higher level thinking?

Standards:

Does the textbook address and meet curriculum standards?
Does the textbook meet national and state standards?
Is the text written at an appropriate level for the students?
Is the book free from bias?

Activities:

Does the textbook present activities that enhance student’s learning?
Does it include interactive activities for use outside of the classroom?
Does it present critical thinking questions for each lesson or topic?
Does the textbook include flexibility and room for differentiation of instruction?
Does the textbook take into account different learning styles

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